How Far Would You Go For Your Pet?

by Judy MorganOctober 13, 2016

A woman in Bengaluru, India recently broke off her arranged marriage to a well-off man in New Delhi due to the fact that her suitor did not likes dogs. Karishma Walia has a dog named Lucy that she could not part with after the impending marriage, stating "My mom thought he's an excellent match because he's good-looking and well-off. There was a lot of family pressure, and they still think I did the wrong thing by raising the concern about my dog". The suitor is trying to persuade Walia to reconsider, but her dog takes priority in her life.

My question to you: How important is your pet? Is your pet part of the family? Do you consider your pet as a loved one or simply "a dog" or "a cat"? Many of my clients are willing to cook home prepared meals for their pets, share their bed with their furry lap warmers, and arrange their schedule around the needs of the animals. In our home, the animals definitely come first. Hue and I share our bed with 6 out of the 9 spaniels and sometimes a cat or two will also climb aboard. When we travel we have a hard time sleeping without the noise and comfort of the the warm, snoring bodies. Hue spends many hours in the kitchen preparing recipes that I have specially designed for the medical needs of each pet. When one of our "kids" is ill or injured, we fret, cry, and seek the best experts in the field, just like we would for any member of the family.

The pet food and supply industry is estimated to top 60 billion dollars this year. Why are we willing to spend so much to keep our loved ones happy? I know we buy coats, dresses, leashes, collars, toys, beds, and food for all our furkids. Do these purchases actually make our pets happy or are we just making ourselves feel better? What is it about animals that makes us fall in love? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I know that my animals provide many hours of happiness and joy for myself and my family. When I arrive home after a long hard day, I am met by a rush of spaniels (and one Schnauzer) that literally line up to get petted and receive a word or two of kindness. If I sit down, I instantly have 4 or 5 animals in my lap. They make me feel wanted and loved. Leashing up 9 dogs and heading out for a walk is one of my favorite activities. Taking care of the furkids brings Hue and I closer together, as we work as a team to make sure everyone is happy and healthy.

So how far would you go? Do you have the philosophy of "Love me, love my dog (or cat)"? Would you call off a marriage if your potential mate didn't like your furry loved ones?

Dr. Judy Morgan is a nationally renowned author and veterinarian certified in acupuncture, food therapy, and chiropractic care for dogs, cats, and horses. As a sought after speaker, Dr. Morgan shares her insight here with blogs and videos.